Register control



May 12, 1953 K, A. SPEARING REGISTER CONTROL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 19, 1950 INII/ENTOR. /i. /Z- iced/"M57 May 12, 1953 K. A. SPEARING REGISTER CONTROL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 19, 1950 Patented May 12, 1953 REGISTER CONTROL Kenneth A. Spearing, Leatherhead, England, as-

signor to Peabody Engineering Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 19, 195 0,'SerialNo.156,871

'7 Claims.

- This invention relates generally to air registers for use with burners for liquid, gaseous or pulverized fuel, although the register may be used for other purposes. It is especially adapted for use with air registers of the same general type as those shown in the patents to ErnestH. Peabody, No. 1,527,214, and to Leslie A. Hicks, No. 2,202,524,:both of which show a frustoconical casing having a plurality of circumferentially arranged rotatable doors by which the admission of air for combustion purposes is controlled. More specifically the invention relates to the mechanism for simultaneously opening and closing the doors of an air register of this general type in varying amounts as desired. While the invention may be used with cylindrical type registers, it is particularly designed and adapted for use with conical type registers.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention,

as shown and described herein, each of the doors,

end of eachof two links connected thereto. In conical registers each bracket moves in a different plane as the doors are opened and closed. This necessitates the connecting of the ends of the links to the brackets in such a manner as to provide in efiect'a universal connection so that the links may rotate in two different planes. This construction and arrangement is such that when one door is rotated about its axis the motion is transmitted to all the other doors by the linkage so that all of the doors are operated in unison the same amount. A suitable means by which one of the doors is manually operated is provided. A means for locking the doors in adjusted position is also provided.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved operating mechanism by which the doors of a conical type register may be operated in unison.

Another object of the invention is to provide an operating mechanism for a register of the above type which comprises a plurality of pivotally mounted links by which the pivoted doors are all connected together to move in unison.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved connection by which the links ina device of this character are pivotally' con 2 nected to the doors for movement in two different planes.

.Still another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of this character which is efficient in operation, is of simple construction and isinexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

Other and more limited objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof wherein:

Fig. 1 is a central vertical sectionthrough a conical type air register having my invention incorporated therein, the plane of the section being indicated by the line l--l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is across section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4, the scale of which is substantially four times the scale of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; v

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of 'a slightly modified form of universal connection'between one of the door brackets and a connecting link; Fig. 6 'is a fragmentary section taken on the line 6-6 ofFig. 5; and

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary section taken on. the line l-Tof Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, thenumeral I indicates generally a conical type air register which comprises a front plate 2, a back ring 3, a th'roat piece 4 and a plurality of adjustably mounted air doors '5.

. The front plate 2 is secured by bolts 8 to a wind box plate I, and the inner end of the throat piece 4 is adapted to be suitably secured to the front wall of a furnace (not shownl'. The back ring 3, which is frustoconical in shapeg'has a flared flange 8 formed integral with the-larger end thereof. It is supported in spaced relation to the front plate 2, with the smaller end thereof registering with the outer end of the throat piece 4, by a plurality of equally spaced elongated bolts 9 and sleeves Ill which are ar-'- ranged in anannular row. The 'bolts 9 extend through the flange 8 of the back ring 3 and an annular flared flange H formed on the inner side of the front plate 2.- The sleeves Ill are mounted on the bolts 9 between the flanges 8 and II and serve to hold the back ring 3. in proper rigid spaced relation to the front plate 2. The air doors 5 are circumferentially' arranged and extend between the flanges. 8 and l I with adjacent sides thereof which may or may not overlap when closed, as indicated at H in brackets Z plane.

ferent; planes:

3 Fig. 2 to form a closed chamber. The air doors 5 are mounted for swinging movement upon the sleeves It! by outwardly extending integral flanges 13 at the tops and bottoms thereof, and are adapted to be opened and closed, in varying degrees as desired to admit controlled quantities of air into the air register chamber, by mechanism to be: described hereinafter. The front plate 2 is provided with a lighting and inspection opening l4, and a clean-out hole [-5. A fuel atomizer barrel I6 is slidably mounted in aligned openings H in the ends of. a" central:

hub [8 which is formed integral with the front plate 2.

The mechanism by which the. air doors 5: are" simultaneously opened and closed equal amounts as desired will now be described; Eachdoor 52 has an outwardly extending bracket rigidly secured thereto adjacent the extension IBatthe forward end thereof. The brackets 20 are all connected together by a plurality of" links 2il each of which extends between two adjacent Each ofthe links Zl comprisesathe central section 22. and the inturnedi endsxw'which aredispo'sed parallel to; each other: in the: same The ends of thelinks: 21 areconnected to the brackets 20 by connectors 24 which pro:-

vide a universalif connection between; the links '21 and the. brackets 20. so that. the linksv 2b: are

free. to rockzin two different planes.

Each connector 24 comprises a headu2 6 and a shank: 211.. Theash'ank" 27 consists of. asmooth cylindrical section 28 and a threaded end: 2'9: of reduced: diameter which provides an annular shoulder 30. between the smooth. section 28i'arrd the. threaded end 239. The smooth; cylindrical section 28 is mounted in an aperture. 31- in a bracket: 2:05 which: is: of. slightly greaterdiameter than the di'a'meterof'thersection-ZB. The l'ength of the smooth cylindrical section 2.8 is: slightly greater than the. thickness of. the. brackets 20. The connector is held in the aperture 3l-'by'*a nut' 32 whichis' screwedonto the threaded. end 29 down: against" the-shoulder-tfi. A look nut 3311's provided' to keep the nut. 32:: from barking away: fromthe shoulder The. head 26has a bore 34 therethrough, the'axis-of. which intersects and. is perpendicular to the axis-of the shankvZl. The inturned ends 23 of the'lirrk's 21 are rotatabl'y mounted" the bores 34;. and: are re- 5.1

taiz red therein. by any suitable means: such. as a split? ring 3:5: mounted. in. an. annular groove-3 6 at each end: of" the links 21.. The rotatable mounting of the: connectors 24 on the brackets 20? together with the: rotatab'lezmounting of'the into-med ends 2:3= ofthe links 21' inthe 561368. 3-4 of the connectors: provide in" efiect a universal joint between the brackets 20 and: the. links: 21 which. permits the" links 2)! to rock in. two: dif' The. difference in: diameter between :the -.apertures: 3 I; in: the'brackets ZBfand the diameters of the connector shanks: ZT'cQmpensatesufor the slight variation in the distance'between. the opposing connectors on adjacent brackets as the doors. are operated.

Any suitable means may be provided for manually operating one of the air doors 5, called the master door, and for looking itinv adjusted position: Asshown herein'one-of the sleeves" l0, of lesser length than the others; is pinned or otherwise rigidly secured to a shaft replacing bolt has indicated at 48 and the associated door 5 is rigidly' secured to the sleeve. I0.. The shaft is extended out beyond the front of. the. front plate 2. and has. a hand-wheel 4| rigidly secured to the end thereof by which the shaft and the connected sleeve and door may be manually turned as desired. A portion of the extending end of the shaft is threaded as indicated at 42 and has a hand operated locking nut 43 thereon which is adapted to engage an annular shoulder 44 on the front of the plate 2 to lock the shaft ands. connected door in adjusted position.

In Figs. 5, 6 and '7 I have shown a slightly different means of connecting the links 2| to the doors 5 for rocking movement in two diiTerent planesz. In this form of the invention I have eliminated the brackets 29 and extended the flanges l' 3 at the" bottoms of the doors as indicated at 45.v Functionally the extensions 45 are groove 5:1: formed therein, and a collar 52' is r0.-

tatably mounted thereon:v The collar 5Zrhas a transverse bore 53 therein. which intersects: the annular groove 51,. and has its axis in: a plane perpendicular to the: axis of the cylindricalhead 4-1. The: diameters of the: bores 53; and: the groovesfiil :are'preferably'the same and are slight- 1y greater than. the. diameters of the ends 23; of the links 2.] The ends 23 of the-links Zil are re"- tatably mounted: in the bores 53 ofzthecollars 52 andengage the: heads 47 within the'grooves. 5l'as shown in- Figs. 5: and: 7.. The: collars: 5 2; are. free to rotate: on.the-heads. 411': and the ends 2320f the links. 21*- arefree: to rotate inthe bores 5.3 'ofj the collars 5-2, thus: providing a connectionbetween the: links 2| and the: extensions 45 whichpermits'the links 2!. to rock in two: different planes as the doors c'rare operated. The: diiierence'in diameter: between thegrooves 51. and the bores 53; and the. ends 23 ofthe-links-s 2|. compensates for: thevery'slight variationin the: distance between the opposing connectors on adjacent. doors when the doorsareoperatedz.

It; should be noted that the; same link; connecxtor. and bracket, arrangement can be:used'to pro:- duceeither: clockwise or; counter-clockwise, rota's tion of the, fluidflowing-between. adjacent doors: If: the; doors: overlap; as; shown, in. the closed position,; a. reversal of. rotation; is accomplished. by interchanging. iniassem-blyg the relative; position of the. overlapping; elements of; adjacent doors: the zuliacent; doors do: not" overlap: in the close position; either direction of rotation can beobtained and this; willjdepend solely-on the direction ofrotation of. the shaft. oft'the master door as it: is caused to movefrom the. closed positiom From the: foregoing it will be; apparent to those skllled this art that-I have. provided a very simple, eflicient and-inexpensive-means. for ac complishing the objects. of: my invention.

Itl-is to. be: understoodthat; I am not limited to thee. specific construction. shown. and described herein as various modifications; may be made prising. p r y of links. a bracket carriedibrf each of said doors and extending radially of its axis of rotation, a pair of connectors rotatably secured to each of said brackets with the axes thereof perpendicular to said brackets, each of said links extending between connectors on adjacent doors, and each of said connectors having means connecting the end of a link thereto for rocking movement about an axis lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the connector.

2. In a register having a plurality of circumferentially arranged peripheral door mounted to rotate about non-parallel axes and forming a frustum of a cone when closed, means interconnecting said doors for operation in unison comprising a plurality of links, means including individual connectors connecting the ends of each of said links to two adjacent doors, each of said connector comprising a pin rotatably secured to a door and having a head with a transverse bore extending therethrough with the axis of said bore in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said pin, the ends of said links being rotatably secured in said bores whereby said links are free to rock about the axis of said bore and about the axis of said pin.

3. In a register having a plurality of circumferentially arranged peripheral doors mounted to rotate about non-parallel axes and forming a frustum of a cone when closed, means interconnecting said doors for operation in unison comprising a plurality of links, means including individual connectors connecting the ends of each of said links to two adjacent doors, each of said connectors comprising a headed bolt rotatably secured to a door and having a transverse bore extending through the head of said bolt with the axis thereof in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said bolt, the ends of said links bein rotatably secured in said bores whereby said links are free to rock about the axis of said bore and about the axis of said bolt.

4. In a register having a plurality of circumferentially arranged peripheral doors mounted to rotate about non-parallel axes and forming a frustum of a cone when closed, means interconnecting said doors for operation in unison comprising a plurality of links, a bracket rigidly secured to each of said doors and extending radially of its axis of rotation, a pair of connectors rotatably secured to each of said brackets, each of saidlinks extending between connectors on adjacent doors, and each of said connectors comprising a headed pin rotatably mounted in an aperture in a bracket and having a transverse bore in the head of said pin in which an end of a link is rotatably mounted, the axis of said bore being in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said pm.

5. In a register having a plurality of circumferentially arranged peripheral doors mounted to rotate about non-parallel axes and forming a frustum of a cone when closed, means interconnecting said doors for operation in unison comprising a plurality of links, a bracket rigidly secured to each of said doors and extending radially of its axis of rotation, a pair of connectors secured to each of said brackets, each of said connectors comprising a headed pin rotatably mounted in an aperture in a bracket and having a transverse bore in the head of said pin the axis of which is in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said pin, each of said links extending between connectors on adjacent brackets and having inturned parallel ends rotatably mounted in the bore of said connectors.

6. In a register having a plurality of circumferentially arranged peripheral doors mounted to rotate about non-parallel axes and forming a frustum of a cone when closed, means interconnecting said doors for operation in unison comprising a plurality of links, a bracket rigidly secured to each of said doors and extending radially of its axis of rotation, a pair of connectors secured to each of said brackets, each of said links extending between connectors on adjacent doors, and each of said connectors comprising a headed member rigidly secured in an aperture in a bracket, and means securing said links to the heads of said members for rocking movement in two difierent planes.

7. In a register having a plurality of circumierentially arranged peripheral doors mounted to rotate about non-parallel axes and forming a frustum of a cone when closed, means interconnecting said doors for operation in unison comprising a plurality of links, a bracket rigidly secured to each of said doors and extending radially of its axis of rotation, a pair of connectors secured to each of said brackets, each of said connectors comprising a headed member rigidly secured in an aperture in a bracket, the head of said member being cylindrical and having an annular semi-circular groove formed therein, a collar rotatably mounted on said head and having a transverse bore which intersects said groove, the axis of said bore being in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said member, each of said links extending between connectors on adjacent brackets and having the inturned parallel ends rotatably mounted in the bore-s in the collars of said connectors.

KENNETH A. SPEARING.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 705,202 Buckman July 22, 1902 1,527,214 Peabody Feb. 24, 1925 2,050,700 Hagen Aug. 11, 1936 2,320,576 Dunn June 1, 1943 2,327,841 Hagen Aug. 24, 1943 

